Silencer for a firearm

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a silencer for a firearm, in particular a handgun, comprising a silencer housing having a rear end wall and a front end wall lying opposite the rear end wall, wherein a shot channel is formed between the two end walls, and at least one silencer insert, wherein at least one gas expansion chamber is formed within the silencer housing, which gas expansion chamber is connected to the shot channel, wherein the at least one silencer insert is arranged in at least one of the at least one gas expansion chamber, and wherein the at least one silencer insert has a stable material having a high open porosity.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2016/060794, filed May 12, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

AREA OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a silencer for a firearm, in particular a handgun, comprising a silencer insert for a silencer of a firearm as well as a firearm with a silencer according to the invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The term “handgun” refers to sidearms such as recoil-operated handguns, gas-operated handguns, pistols, or the like. The invention is described on the example of a handgun, although the present invention is not limited to it and may be used with long guns as well.

It is common knowledge to equip guns with a silencer to reduce the sound emission when a shot is fired. Silencers generally cool the hot gases coming from the barrel of the gun and/or slow or relax them by creating turbulence. It is preferred in this regard, when the silencer is attached to the barrel of the gun by means of a thread or the like, so that the silencer is arranged on the barrel in a substantially gas-tight manner. This way, no gas can exist between the barrel and the silencer, which could impair the silencing performance.

However, if the silencer is not firmly attached to the barrel of the gun, any gases that are pent up between the barrel and the silencer in a disadvantageous manner may exit from the silencer and thus cause unintended sound pressure.

On pistols with barrels that are pulled back when reloading and that tilt backward (Petter Browning system), conventional silencers cannot be firmly attached to the barrel due to their weight, because a silencer attached to the barrel increases the mass that returns during the shot, whereby the return velocity of the barrel and the bolt are reduced. This may cause the self-loading function of the weapon to not be performed at all or create malfunctions. In practice, attempts have been made to solve this problem with lighter and/or smaller silencers. This had the disadvantage, however, that the stability of the silencer decreases in the correspondingly lighter silencers and that the silencing effect may be significantly reduced in smaller silencers. Alternatively, an attempt was made not to attach the silencer on the barrel or the breech block, but on the handle of the weapon. This has the disadvantage, however, that during the reloading cycle gases exit from the silencer between the silencer and the barrel, which significantly decreases the silencing power.

Another disadvantage of traditional silencers is the so-called first round pop or first round effect. That means that the complete silencing power is not reached until the second shot is fired.

Silencers generally comprise a silencer housing and a silencer insert arranged in the silencer housing. FIG. 1 shows a silencer insert known from prior art. The silencer insert 60 comprises a rigid structure with a number of lamellae 61. Holes 62 may be arranged in the lamellae 61. Depending on the silencer and the ammunition used, the silencer inserts 60 known from prior art may have a structure that varies in terms of its rigidity. To achieve the desired silencing power, stable material such as metal must be used for the silencer insert 60. This, however, is associated with a high weight of the silencer as a whole. The silencer mounted at the front end of the weapon therefore generally leads to a disadvantageous shift of the weapon's overall center of mass.

Furthermore, silencers are known from prior art that use the so-called “wet principle.” Such a silencer, shown in FIG. 2, is known from EP 1 764 577 A1 for example. A damper medium 63, in particular water, is arranged in the silencer housing 20, which partially evaporates due to the hot explosion gases that flow past it, whereby the explosion gases are so strongly cooled that the muzzle blast is reduced in spite of the volume increase during the evaporation. Instead of the stable silencer inserts shown in FIG. 1, only the corresponding chambers must be provided that can accommodate the water 63. Since water has a much lower specific weight than steel, for example, the overall weight of the silencer can be reduced. What is disadvantageous, however, is that the silencer must be refilled with new damper medium after just a few shots.

TASK OF THE INVENTION

The task of the present invention is therefore to provide a silencer for a firearm that avoids at least some of the disadvantages known from prior art and that has a much lower weight than the silencers known from prior art and that provides the desired silencing effect even without adding something to the silencer such as water.

Solution According to the Invention

According to the invention, this task is solved by a silencer for a firearm comprising a silencer insert for a silencer of a firearm as well as a firearm with a silencer according to the invention as provided in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments and further developments of the invention are provided in the respective dependent claims.

What is therefore provided is a silencer for a firearm, in particular a handgun, comprising

-   -   a silencer housing having a rear end wall which, when the         silencer is used as intended, faces a barrel of the firearm and         a front end wall lying opposite the rear end wall, whereby a         first opening is provided in the rear end wall and a second         opening in the front end wall, whereby a shot channel runs         between the two openings, and     -   at least one silencer insert,     -   whereby in the interior of the silencer housing at least one gas         expansion chamber is provided that is connected with the shot         channel, whereby at least one silencer insert is arranged in at         least one gas expansion chamber, whereby at least one silencer         insert comprises a material that is stable and has high open         porosity.

“Stable” and/or “stable material” means here that the silencer insert has a high specific stiffness and strength in spite of the high open porosity.

One advantage of the silencer according to the invention over silencers known from prior art is that the silencer insert has much less weight than the silencer inserts known from prior art silencers due to the high open porosity. The specific weight of the silencer insert according to the invention may even be significantly below the specific weight of water. The total weight of the silencer may be reduced so significantly that the silencer according to the invention may be suitable for firearms with a moving barrel as well.

Another advantage is that the silencing performance is achieved even with silencers that are not firmly attached to the barrel of the firearm (the silencer may, for example, be attached to the handle of the weapon) because, due to the high open porosity of the silencer insert, the silencer insert of the silencer according to the invention has a much larger surface than a silencer insert from a silencer known from prior art. At a corresponding pore density, the surface of the silencer insert of the silencer according to the invention may be over 1,000 times larger than the surface of a silencer insert of a silencer known from prior art. This way, the hot gases that exit from the barrel and enter the silencer that is fixed relative to the barrel can be cooled extremely quickly so that the pressure of the explosion gases in the silencer is reduced so much that hardly any pent-up gases exit between the barrel and the silencer. Should gas exit, however, between the barrel and the silencer, this is done at a significantly reduced speed, which no longer leads to any sound pressure.

Another advantage of the silencer according to the invention is that, due to the high open porosity of the material of the silencer insert, there is no first round pop and/or first round effect. The silencer according to the invention therefore delivers the full silencing power from the first shot.

It is advantageous that the material of the silencer insert is selected from the group comprising

-   -   metal, in particular aluminum, copper, zinc, nickel, iron, or a         combination thereof,     -   ceramic,     -   carbon,     -   and combinations thereof.

These materials and/or material combinations are characterized by the high specific stiffness and strength. On the other hand, it was found that silencer inserts can be produced with these materials in an especially preferred manner which, in addition to the high specific stiffness and strength, have a high open porosity and open-celled structure and a very low specific density at the same time.

In one embodiment of the invention, the material of the silencer insert may be foamed. Metal foams, ceramic foams, carbon foams, or a combination thereof with open cells and a high open porosity may be used for example to produce the silencer insert.

It was found advantageous if the silencer insert has a pore density between 5 ppi (pores per inch) and 200 ppi, preferably between 10 ppi and 100 ppi.

With this pore density, the surface can be maximized and it can be guaranteed at the same time that the high specific stiffness and strength of the silencer insert is maintained with the materials mentioned.

It is particularly preferred when the pores and/or cavities formed in the silencer insert are connected to each other and the environment in such a way that gas expanding in the silencer housing or at least in a gas expansion chamber is absorbed at least partially by the silencer insert during an expansion phase and thereby slowed and/or cooled. The cavities and/or pores connected with each other and with the environment provide an open-celled material structure that has an even higher specific surface and an even lower specific density, whereby the expanding gas can flow through the silencer insert. With the same silencing power, therefore, the size and the weight of the silencer can be reduced even further. The silencing power can, however, be increased even more while maintaining the same size for the silencer.

It is furthermore preferred when open channels are formed on either one or both sides of the silencer insert that end in the shot channel. This way, the expanding gases can get to the otherwise “hidden” area of the silencer insert faster so that an even expansion of the gas within the silencer insert is guaranteed.

At least some of the channels may be connected with each other.

It is preferable if the silencer insert is removably arranged in the silencer housing. This way, the silencer insert can be removed from the silencer housing, for example for cleaning purposes.

It was also found that the silencer insert according to the invention is particularly easy to clean under running water or in a regular dishwasher.

In one embodiment of the invention, the shot channel of the silencer may be formed at least partially in the silencer insert.

Exactly one gas expansion chamber can be formed in the silencer housing of the silencer, whereby exactly one silencer insert is arranged in this gas expansion chamber.

What is furthermore provided is a firearm, in particular a handgun, that comprises a silencer according to the invention.

In another aspect of the invention, a silencer insert is provided for a silencer of a firearm, in particular a handgun, whereby the silencer insert is adapted to be arranged in a silencer housing of the silencer, whereby the silencer insert comprises a stable material with high open porosity and/or an open-celled structure.

The material of the silencer insert may be selected from the group comprising

-   -   metal, in particular aluminum, copper, zinc, nickel, iron, or a         combination thereof,     -   ceramic,     -   carbon,     -   and combinations thereof.

In one embodiment of the silencer insert according to the invention, the material of the silencer insert may be foamed.

The silencer insert can have a pore density between 5 ppi and 200 ppi, preferably between 10 ppi and 100 ppi.

The pores and/or cavities formed in the silencer insert are connected to each other and the environment in such a way that expanding gas can be at least partially absorbed in the silencer housing or at least in a gas expansion chamber by the silencer insert during an expansion phase and thereby slowed and/or cooled.

The silencer insert may be formed to comprise open channels on one or both sides, whereby in a preferred embodiment at least some of the channels may be connected with each other.

A shot channel may be formed in the silencer insert.

The silencer insert may be made from one piece.

Furthermore, the use of a stable material with high open porosity and/or an open-celled structure is provided as the silencer insert for a silencer of a firearm, in particular a handgun.

In the use of the material, said material may be selected from the group comprising

-   -   metal, in particular aluminum, copper, zinc, nickel, iron, or a         combination thereof,     -   ceramic,     -   carbon,     -   and combinations thereof.

In the use of the material for a silencer insert according to the invention, the material may be foamed.

It is preferable here if the silencer insert has a pore density between 5 ppi and 200 ppi, preferably between 10 ppi and 100 ppi.

In the use of the material for a silencer insert according to the invention, the pores and/or cavities formed in the material are connected to each other and the environment in such a way that the material absorbs gas expanding in a silencer housing at least partially during an expansion phase and thereby slows and/or cools the absorbed gas.

A silencer for a firearm, in particular a handgun, may comprise

-   -   a silencer housing having a rear end wall which, when the         silencer is used as intended, faces a barrel of the firearm and         a front end wall lying opposite the rear end wall, whereby a         first opening is provided in the rear end wall and a second         opening in the front end wall, whereby a shot channel runs         between the two openings, and     -   a closing device, comprising a shutter and a suspending agent         that interacts with the shutter,

whereby the shutter is arranged on the inside of the silencer housing and is pivotably positioned around a pivoting axis, whereby the shutter with the suspending agent is pivotable between a first pivoting position, in which the shutter closes the first opening in a substantially gas-tight manner and a second pivoting position in which the shutter is completely outside the shot channel.

The shutter prevents any hot gas that entered the silencer housing between the silencer and the barrel from exiting the silencer housing again. The closing mechanism or the closing device, respectively, is designed so that the shutter only closes the first opening in a gas-tight manner when the gas exiting from the barrel has been almost completely received by the damper housing.

A silencer with such a closing device may be used for firearms in an advantageous manner where the silencer is not firmly attached to the barrel.

The suspending means may be arranged in the rear end wall and be movable in the axial direction relative to the silencer housing, whereby the suspending means protrudes from the rear end wall on the one hand and protrudes into the interior of the silencer housing on the other, whereby a movement of the suspending means causes a pivoting of the shutter into the second pivoting position.

It is preferred when a reset means is arranged to the shutter which is adapted to pivot the shutter from the second pivoting position to the first pivoting position. By means of the suspending means and the reset means, the shutter can thereby be pivoted back and forth between the first pivoting position and the second pivoting position.

It is especially preferred when the suspending means is adapted to interact with a first end section, in particular a barrel, closure, or a part that is axially movable relative to the handle piece, of the firearm.

It is preferred hereby if, by an axial movement of the front end section toward the rear end wall of the silencer housing, the suspending means is moved in the axial direction into the inside of the silencer housing, thereby causing a pivoting of the shutter into the second pivoting position. Before a shot is fired, the suspending means is thus pushed into the inside of the silencer housing so that the suspending means brings the shutter into the second pivoting position, in which the shutter is arranged completely outside the shot channel. After a shot has been fired, the barrel, the closure, or the part that is axially movable relative to the handle piece move backwards so that the reset means can bring the shutter into the first pivoting position, in which the shutter closes the first opening in the rear back wall in a gas-tight manner. At the same time, the suspending means is moved backward in the axial direction.

The suspending means may comprise a pin.

The reset means may comprise a reset spring.

A silencer may comprise a silencer inset according to the invention and a closing device according to the invention.

Furthermore, a firearm, in particular a handgun, may comprise a silencer comprising a silencer insert according to the invention and a closing device according to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The description below provides, in connection with the drawing, details and features of the invention as well as preferred embodiments of the invention:

FIG. 1 shows a silencer insert known from prior art;

FIG. 2 shows a silencer insert known from prior art that uses the so-called “wet principle”;

FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal cut of the silencer insert according to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal cut of the silencer insert according to the invention;

FIG. 5 shows an alternative design of a silencer insert in a silencer;

FIG. 6 shows details of a section of a silencer insert according to the invention; and

FIG. 7 shows a silencer with a closing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal cut of the silencer insert according to the invention along the longitudinal axis LA. The silencer insert 30 is made from one piece here. It may, however, consist of several pieces as well. The multipart design is recommended when several separate gas expansion chambers are configured in the silencer housing 20.

The silencer insert 30 comprises a material 30 b which has high open porosity and an open-celled structure. The silencer insert may, for example, be made from metal, in particular aluminum, copper, zinc, nickel, iron, or combinations thereof, from ceramic, carbon, or combinations thereof.

By using said materials, the high open porosity and/or the open-celled structure may be created by means of foaming methods that are known. Materials made in this manner have a low density due to the pores and cavities, but at the same time a high specific stiffness and strength, whereby an extremely low weight of the silencer insert is achieved. Due to the high open porosity and open-celled structure of the material, the silencer insert has an extremely large surface. This way, silencer inserts may be provided, for example, that have a surface that is 1,000 times greater than the surface of traditional silencer inserts. The extremely large surface makes it possible that the gases expanding in the expansion chamber of the silencer housing cool off extremely quickly on the one hand and are slowed extremely quickly on the other.

Due to the open-celled structure of the material used, the expanding gas may flow through the material.

So that the expanding gas can enter the silencer insert 30 even faster and more evenly, channels 31 are provided in the silencer insert that end in the shot channel 23, which may be formed in the silencer insert 30. The channels 31 may furthermore be connected by means of traverse channels.

When the hot explosion gas enters the silencer housing, the gas expanding in the silencer housing is pushed into the silencer insert, whereby the gas is slowed and cooled.

FIG. 4 shows a silencer 10 according to the invention with a silencer housing 20 and a silencer insert 30 arranged in the silencer housing 20.

The silencer housing 20 has a rear back wall 21 a which faces the barrel of the weapon when the silencer is used as intended. Furthermore, the silencer housing 20 has a front end wall 21 b that lies opposite the rear back wall 21 a.

Openings 22 a, 22 b are formed in the rear back wall 21 a and the front back wall 21 b, which are connected by means of a shot channel 23. The barrel of the weapon may engage in the rear opening 22 a. The shot channel 23 itself may be formed here in the silencer insert 30; i.e., the shot channel 23 goes through the silencer insert 30.

After a shot has been fired, the expanding hot gas gets through the opening 22 a in the rear back wall 21 a to the gas expansion chamber 23 that is formed in the silencer housing 20. There, the further expanding hot gas is pushed into the open-pored structure of the silencer insert 30 and thereby cooled and slowed in an extremely fast manner. Due to the extremely fast cooling, which is achieved by the extremely large surface of the silencer insert 30, the silencer 10 according to the invention may also be used for weapons where the silencer is not firmly attached to the barrel. In particular, the silencer according to the invention may also be used for weapons with a movable barrel or respectively with a returning barrel. Because the gas cools extremely quickly, it can be guaranteed even for weapons with a returning barrel that almost no gas exits between the barrel and the silencer.

According to the embodiment of a silencer according to the invention shown in FIG. 4, the silencer has a mounting rail 15 on the rear back wall 21 a with which the silencer can be removably attached to a handle of the weapon. This way, the barrel can move independently from the silencer, which is preferable in particular for weapons with a returning and tilted barrel.

The silencer 10 may, however, also be attached to the barrel of a weapon that has a returning and tilting barrel. Because of the extremely low specific density of the material used for the silencer insert, a particularly light silencer can be provided, which influences the return speed of the barrel and therefore the self-loading function of the weapon only insignificantly or not at all.

The silencer 10 according to the invention that can be attached to a barrel, and in particular to a firearm with a returning and tilting barrel, is shown in FIG. 5. A silencer insert 30 is arranged in the silencer housing 20, whereby here as well the shot channel 23 is formed in the silencer insert 30. The silencer insert 30 furthermore comprises a number of radially oriented channels 31 to transport the gas expanding in the gas expansion chamber as quickly as possible to the areas at the edges of the silencer insert.

Depending on the material used, and depending on the porosity, silencer inserts may be produced that weigh less than 250 grams up to less than 50 grams. In this way, the total weight of the silencer is mostly determined by the silencer housing 20.

Due to the characteristics of the silencer insert according to the invention, the size of the silencer may be significantly reduced while maintaining the silencer characteristics, which, in turn, leads to a reduced total weight of the silencer.

Because the gas expanding in the gas expansion chamber cools extremely fast due to the silencer insert 30, and therefore slows down, the silencer housing 20 may, at least in sections, be produced from a lighter material so that the total weight of the silencer can be reduced even further. The material of the silencer housing 20 does not have to have the stability of the materials of traditional silencer housings because the gas expanding in the gas expansion chamber cools much faster than in traditional silencers and because the pressure drops significantly quicker as well.

FIG. 6 shows in picture (a) a section of the material used for a silencer insert according to the invention with a pore density of 25 ppi and in picture (b) a section of a material 30 b for a silencer insert according to the invention with a pore density of 90 ppi. The pores or cavities are connected here with each other and with the environment in such a way that the expanding gas can flow through the silencer insert so that, compared to traditional silencer inserts, sections of the silencer insert on the inside, that are not visible from the outside, effectively contribute to the silencing.

FIG. 7 shows a silencer with a silencer housing and with a closing device, whereby in picture (a) the entire silencer is shown relative to the front end section of a weapon, in picture (c) the silencer is shown in the area of the rear end wall with the closing device in a first pivoting position, and in picture (b) the rear end wall of the silencer housing is shown with a closing device in a second pivoting position.

The silencer housing 20 comprises in the rear back wall 21 a a first opening 22 a and in the front back wall 21 b a second opening 22 b, between which the shot channel 23 is formed. In the area of the opening 22 a in the rear back wall 21 a, a closing device 40 is arranged with which the opening 22 a can be closed in a gas-tight manner. While a shot is fired, the closing device 40 is opened so that the bullet can pass through the shot channel 23 without hindrance. After the shot has been fired, the back opening 22 a is closed by means of the closing device 40 so that the hot gases entering the silencer housing can no longer escape through the back opening 22 a and are therefore forced to further expand in the silencer housing and to cool there.

The exact course of events is described in further detail in pictures (b) and (c) of FIG. 7.

Picture (b) shows a closing device 40 that is in a second closing position or pivoting position S2. The closing device consists of a shutter 41 and of the suspending means 42 that interacts with the shutter 41. The shutter 41 is arranged on the inside of the silencer housing 20 and pivotably positioned around a pivoting axis 43. The suspending means 42 is axially movable and positioned in the rear end wall 21 a. Furthermore, the suspending means 22 interacts with a front end section 50, for example the breech block 51 of the weapon.

Picture (b) shows the breech block 51 of the weapon in a position before a shot is fired. The breech block 51 is located here on a rear back wall 21 a of the silencer so that the breech block pushes the suspending means 42 so far into the inside of the silencer housing that the shutter 41 is brought to the second pivoting position S2, in which the shutter 41 is located completely outside the shot channel 23 and therefore guarantees an unobstructed passing of the projectile through the shot channel 23 when a shot is fired.

After the shot has been fired, the breech block 21 moves back in the axial direction and thereby moves away from the rear back wall 21 a of the silencer 10, as shown in picture (c). This releases the suspending means 42, or the suspending means 42 is no longer pushed against the shutter 41 by the breech block 51. With a reset means assigned to the shutter 41, for example a reset spring, the shutter 41 is brought from the second pivoting position S2 to the first pivoting position S1, in which the shutter 41 closes the opening 22 a in the rear end wall 21 a in a substantially gas-tight manner. By pivoting the shutter 41 from the second pivoting position S2 to the first pivoting position S1, the suspending means 42 is moved backward in the axial direction so that the suspending means 42 partially protrudes on the rear end wall 21 a.

The moving back of the breech block 51 and therefore the pivoting of the shutter 41 from the second pivoting position S2 to the first pivoting position S1 takes place due to the inertia of the breech block 51 with a certain, albeit minimal, delay, which is enough for the explosion gases to exit from the barrel of the weapon after a shot has been fired and to enter the silencer housing 20 before the shutter 41 completely closes the back opening 22 a. After the closing of the back opening 22 a by the shutter 41, gas no longer exits from this opening. Pent-up gases remain inside the silencer; here they are cooled and slowed.

After the ejection of the shell and after the reloading, the breech block 21 axially moves forward again until it takes the position shown in picture (b) and the closing device 40 releases the back opening 22 a again.

The silencer shown in FIG. 7 with a closing device 40 may also be used in combination with the aforementioned silencer insert according to the invention.

The silencer 10 shown in FIG. 7 with a closing device 40 is particularly suitable for weapons with a returning barrel where the silencer cannot be attached to the barrel. By providing the closing device 40, it is ensured that almost no gas exits between the silencer and the barrel of the weapon that could cause sound pressure. The shutter 41 only has to remain shut until the explosion gases have cooled to a specified temperature or until the explosion gases have slowed to a certain speed, in which case the exiting gases no longer cause sound pressure.

REFERENCE SIGNS

-   10 Silencer -   15 Silencer mounting rail 10 -   20 Silencer housing -   21 a Rear end wall of the silencer housing 20 -   21 b Front end wall of the silencer housing 20 -   22 a First opening in the rear end wall 21 a -   22 b Second opening in the front end wall 21 b -   23 Shot channel -   25 Gas expansion chamber on the inside of the silencer housing 20 -   30 Silencer insert -   30 b Material of the silencer insert 30 -   31 Channels in the silencer insert 30 -   40 Closing device -   41 Shutter of the closing device 40 -   42 Suspending means (e.g., movably positioned pin) -   43 Pivoting axis -   50 Front end of the weapon -   51 Closure or breech block of the weapon -   60 Silencer insert (prior art) -   61 Lamellae (prior art) -   62 Holes in the lamellae (prior art) -   63 Damping medium such as water (prior art) -   LA Longitudinal axis of the silencer 10 -   S1 First swivel position of the closing flap 41 -   S2 Second swivel position of the closing flap 41 

1. A silencer (10) for a firearm, in particular a handgun, comprising a silencer housing (20) having a rear end wall (21) which, when the silencer is used as intended, faces a barrel of the firearm and a front end wall (21 b) lying opposite the rear end wall (21 a), whereby a first opening (22 a) is provided in the rear end wall (21 a) and a second opening (22 b) in the front end wall (21 b), whereby a shot channel (23) runs between the two openings (22 a; 22 b), and at least one silencer insert (30), whereby in the interior of the silencer housing (20) at least one gas expansion chamber (25) is provided that is connected with the shot channel (23), whereby at least one silencer insert (30) is arranged in at least one gas expansion chamber (25), whereby at least one silencer insert (30) comprises a material that is stable and has high open porosity.
 2. The silencer of claim 1, whereby the material of the silencer insert (30) consists of at least one of the group comprising metal, in particular aluminum, copper, zinc, nickel, iron, or a combination thereof, ceramic, carbon, and combinations thereof.
 3. The silencer of claim 1, whereby the material of the silencer insert (30) is foamed.
 4. The silencer of claim 1, whereby the silencer insert (30) has a pore density between 5 ppi (pores per inch) and 200 ppi, preferably between 10 ppi and 100 ppi.
 5. The silencer of claim 1, whereby the pores and/or cavities formed in the silencer insert (30) are connected to each other and the environment in such a way that gas expanding in the silencer housing (20) or at least in a gas expansion chamber (25) is absorbed at least partially by the silencer insert (30) during an expansion phase and thereby slowed and/or cooled.
 6. The silencer of claim 1, whereby the pores and/or cavities formed in the silencer insert (30) are connected to each other and the environment in such a way that gas expanding in the silencer housing (20) or at least in a gas expansion chamber (25) is absorbed at least partially by the silencer insert (30) during an expansion phase and thereby slowed and/or cooled.
 7. The silencer of claim 1, whereby open channels (31) are formed on either one or both sides of the silencer insert (30) that end in the shot channel (23).
 8. The silencer of claim 1, whereby at least some of the channels (31) are connected with each other.
 9. The silencer of claim 1, whereby the silencer insert (30) is removably arranged in the silencer housing (20).
 10. The silencer of claim 1, whereby the shot channel (25) is formed at least partially in the silencer insert (30).
 11. The silencer of claim 1, whereby exactly one gas expansion chamber (25) is formed in the silencer housing (20) and whereby exactly one silencer insert (30) is arranged in this gas expansion chamber (25).
 12. A firearm, in particular a handgun, comprising a silencer of claim
 1. 13. A silencer insert (30) for a silencer (10) of a firearm, in particular a handgun, whereby the silencer insert (30) is adapted to be arranged in a silencer housing (20) of the silencer (10), whereby the silencer insert (30) comprises a stable material with high open porosity.
 14. The silencer insert of claim 13, whereby the material of the silencer insert (30) consists of at least one of the group comprising metal, in particular aluminum, copper, zinc, nickel, iron, or a combination thereof, ceramic, carbon, and combinations thereof.
 15. The silencer insert of claim 13, whereby the material of the silencer insert (30) is foamed.
 16. The silencer insert of claim 13, whereby the silencer insert (30) has a pore density between 5 ppi (pores per inch) and 200 ppi, preferably between 10 ppi and 100 ppi.
 17. The silencer insert of claim 13, whereby the pores and/or cavities formed in the silencer insert (30) are connected to each other and the environment in such a way that gas expanding in the silencer housing (20) is absorbed at least partially by the silencer insert (30) during an expansion phase and thereby slowed and/or cooled.
 18. The silencer insert of claim 13, whereby open channels (31) are formed on either one or both sides of the silencer insert (30).
 19. The silencer insert of claim 18, whereby at least some of the channels (31) are connected with each other.
 20. The silencer insert of claim 13, whereby a shot channel (23) is formed in the silencer insert (30).
 21. The silencer insert of claim 13, whereby the silencer insert (30) is formed in one part.
 22. Use of a stable material with high open porosity as the silencer insert (30) for a silencer (10) of a firearm, in particular a handgun.
 23. The use of claim 22, whereby the material consists of at least one of the group comprising metal, in particular aluminum, copper, zinc, nickel, iron, or a combination thereof, ceramic, carbon, and combinations thereof.
 24. The use of claim 22, whereby the material is foamed.
 25. The use of claim 22, whereby the material has a pore density between 5 ppi (pores per inch) and 200 ppi, preferably between 10 ppi and 100 ppi.
 26. The use of claim 22, whereby the pores and/or cavities formed in the material are connected to each other and the environment in such a way that the material absorbs gas expanding in a silencer housing (20) at least partially during an expansion phase and thereby slows and/or cools the absorbed gas. 